Savant syndrome

Photo by: muro

Definition

Savant syndrome occurs when a person with below normal
intelligence
displays a special talent or ability in a specific area.

Description

Children who display savant syndrome have traditionally been referred to
as idiot, retarded, or autistic savants. The negative connotations of the
term "idiot" have led to the disuse of idiot savant. Because
the syndrome is often associated with
autism
, the term autistic savant is more frequently heard. The first known
description of a person displaying savant syndrome occurred in a German
psychology journal in 1751. The term savant was first used in 1887 by J.
Langdon Down (the doctor for whom
Down syndrome
is named).

Demographics

About half of all children with savant syndrome are autistic.
Approximately 10 percent of all children with autism have savant syndrome.
The rate increases to 25 percent of children with autism who have an IQ
over 35. (Many autistic children have lower IQs.) About three times as
many boys as girls have savant syndrome. This may be because more boys
than girls are affected with autism. Less than 1 percent of the
non-autistic population, including those with
mental retardation
and other developmental disorders, have savant syndrome.

Causes and symptoms

The causes of savant syndrome were as of 2004 not known. Some researchers
hypothesize that it is caused by a change in a gene or genes, and others
believe that it is caused by some kind of damage to the left hemisphere of
the brain with compensation for this injury occurring in the right
hemisphere. The reasons for the syndrome are not at all clear, however,
and more research needs to be done.

Children with savant syndrome have an exceptional talent or skill in a
particular area, such as the ability to process mathematical calculations
at a phenomenal speed. Savant skills occur in a number of different areas,
including music, visual arts, and mathematics. Experts believe that the
most common skill demonstrated by savants is extraordinary memory.
Children with savant syndrome may be able to memorize extensive amounts of
data in such areas as
sports
statistics, population figures, and historical or biographical data. One
particular skill common to those with savant syndrome is the ability to
calculate what day of the week a particular date fell on or will fall on.

Diagnosis

Savant syndrome is diagnosed when a child's ability in one area is
exceptionally higher than would be expected given his or her IQ or general
level of functioning.

Treatment

Savant syndrome is not known to have any drawbacks, so it does not have to
be treated itself. The underlying disorders that usually accompany savant
syndrome need to be treated, and it is believed that making use of the
special talent of the child with savant syndrome may help treat the
child's underlying developmental disorders.

Prognosis

The special skill associated with savant syndrome in a specific child is
usually present for life. There has been at least one report of the skill
being lost when progress was gained in other areas, but this appears to be
very rare. In general, if the level of the skill changes it improves as
the skill is practiced.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent savant syndrome.

Parental concerns

Children with savant syndrome have a very special skill that can be
nurtured. These children may respond better to treatments for any
underlying disorder that make use in some way of the childs special
underlying interest and talent.

KEY TERMS

Autism
—A developmental disability that appears early in life, in
which normal brain development is disrupted and social and
communication skills are retarded, sometimes severely.